ONE Championship’s Empower card, rescheduled from May due to the coronavirus pandemic, is back on — with Xiong Jing Nan defending her strawweight title in the main event.
The all-female affair will also feature the launch of ONE’s much anticipated atomweight grand prix.
In a press release on Monday, ONE officials revealed the opening round match-ups, as well as the strawweight title fight. Nan (15-2) will be making the fifth defense of her belt in the main event fight, against the #2 ranked Michelle Nicolini.
In her last outing, at Inside the Matrix in October 2020, the strawweight champ fought to a unanimous decision win against Tiffany Teo. Her only loss under the ONE banner came against Angela Lee, in an attempt to claim a second title at atomweight.
ONE’s atomweight grand prix, meanwhile, is set to feature the following match-ups:
Denice Zamboanga vs. Seo Hee Ham, which will mark Ham, a former UFC fighter and ROAD FC champ’s debut with the promotion.
Stamp Fairtex vs. Alyona Rassohyna, ranked #4 and #3 in the weight class, respectively.
Meng Bo vs. Ritu Phogat, after Phogat’s return to the win column late last month.
And finally, Itsuki Hirata vs. Alyse Anderson.
Bi Nguyen, who served up Phogat’s first loss earlier this year, may also appear at the event as well. The winner of her bout later this month against Jenelyn Olsim will face Grace Cleveland in one of two tournament alternate fights. The other alternate bout sees Mei Yamaguchi take on Julie Mezabarba.
ONE Championship: Empower takes place September 3, 2021 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. The full card as announced Monday can be found below.
MAIN CARD
ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship
(C) Xiong Jing Nan vs. (2) Michelle Nicolini
Strawweight: 52.3 KG–56.7 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(1) Denice Zamboanga vs. Seo Hee Ham
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(4) Stamp Fairtex vs. (3) Alyona Rassohyna
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(2) Meng Bo vs. Ritu Phogat
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
Itsuki Hirata vs. Alyse Anderson
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
Kickboxing
Anissa Meksen vs. Cristina Morales
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
LEAD CARD
Muay Thai
Jackie Buntan vs. Daniela Lopez
Strawweight: 52.3 KG–56.7 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix Alternate
Mei Yamaguchi vs. Julie Mezabarba
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix Alternate
Bi Nguyen/Jenelyn Olsim vs. Grace Cleveland
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG
